Capacitor layout technique for reduction of fixed pattern noise in a CMOS sensor

ABSTRACT

A new capacitor architecture includes a front plate of the capacitor formed from a first polysilicon layer. The front plate is surrounded by a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer. The back plate of the capacitor is formed from one layer of a first two-layer conductive structure which surrounds the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. The two-layer conductive structure is an equal potential structure and includes a conductive coupling between the two layers.

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/881,002, filed Jul. 1, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,124,384, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/216,804, filed Aug. 13, 2002, (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,774,459), the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a CMOS active pixel sensor system. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a capacitor architecture useful for minimizing fixed pattern noise in a sample-and-hold stage of a CMOS active pixel sensor system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a front-end portion of a color CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) imaging system 100. The system 100 includes a N×M pixel array 110 comprised of pixels R, G, B which are sensitive to red, green, and blue colored light, respectively. The pixels R, G, B are typically arranged in a Bayer pattern, in which alternating rows are comprised of green/red and green/blue pixels in adjacent columns.

Any image focused upon the pixel array 110 causes the pixels R, G, B to convert the incident light into electrical energy. As will be described in greater detail below, this conversion typically results in a pixel outputting two electrical signals, namely the reset signal and a photo signal. Typically, CMOS APS imaging systems 100 operate by selecting and coupling a row of pixels, via signal lines 206 to a sample-and-hold circuit 120. The sample-and-hold circuit 120 includes M subcircuits 121 which are coupled to a bus 122. Each of the subcircuits 121 samples and holds the reset and photo signals from one of the pixels of the selected row. The M subcircuits 121 are sequentially selected to couple (via bus 122, comprising reset signal line 122 r and photo signal line 122 p) the sampled reset and photo signals to a driver 130. The driver 130 performs additional processing, which may include, for example, signal amplification or conditioning. The output of the driver 130 is then provided to an analog-to-digital converter 140, which converts the sampled signals into a digital signal. The digital signal can then be provided to the remainder (not illustrated) of the APS imaging system 100 for further processing, manipulation, and storage. The above process is then repeated with the next pixel in the selected row by selecting the next sequential subcircuit 121 until the entire selected row has been processed. The above described processing is then performed on another row until every row in the array 110 has been processed. In alternative implementations the rest and photo signals are combined (e.g., subtracted) at the output of the sample-and-hold circuit 121 or in driver 130 so that the analog-to-digital converter receives a combined signal from each pixel.

FIG. 2 is a more detailed illustration of a pixel (R, G, or B). The pixel includes an element, such as photodiode 201, for converting optical energy to electrical energy. The photodiode 201 is sensitive to green light if the pixel is a green (G) pixel, red light if the pixel is a red (R) pixel, or blue light if the pixel is a blue (B) pixel. The pixels are made color sensitive by red, green, or blue filters as well known in the art. The output of the photodiode 201 is coupled to the gate of source-follower transistor 203 via the source/drain terminals of a transfer transistor 202 and node-A. A power source having a potential level of Vdd is coupled to column output line 206 via the source/drain terminals of the source follower transistor 203 and a row select transistor 204, which has its gate coupled via signal line 210 to a ROW signal. The ROW signal is also coupled to other pixels (R, G, or B) in the same row. A power source having a reset voltage potential level of Vrst is coupled to the gate of the source-follower transistor 203 via the source/drain terminals of transistor 205 and node-A. The gate of transistor 205 is coupled to reset signal line 208 to the RST signal. The gate of the transfer transistor 202 is coupled via signal lines 209 and 207 to a transfer (TX) signal.

The pixel (R, G, or B) is operated in a manner to include a two phase process, wherein a reset signal is output during a first phase and a photo signal is output during a second phase. At the beginning of the first phase, the ROW signal of the pixel is asserted, thereby switching on transistor 204. The TX signal is not asserted, thus transistor 202 is switched off, and the signal from the photodiode 201 is isolated from the gate of the source follower transistor 203. The RST signal is asserted, thereby switching on transistor 205 and coupling the Vrst power source to the gate of the source follower transistor 203 via node-A. This causes a current to flow from the Vdd power source to the output line 206. After a predetermined amount of time, the RST signal is then de-asserted, thereby switching off the source follower transistor 203 and terminating the first phase.

The second phase begins with the assertion of the TX signal, which switches on the transfer transistor 202, thereby permitting the signal produced by the photodiode 201 to be applied to the gate of the source-follower transistor 203. This causes a current to flow from the Vdd power source to the output line 206. After a predetermined amount of time, the TX signal is de-asserted, thereby switching off the transfer transistor 202 and terminating the second phase. The ROW signal is then de-asserted, thereby isolating the pixel from the output line 206.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121. The subcircuit 121 includes a portion for sampling and holding the reset signal 301 r and a portion for sampling and holding the photo signal 301 p. Each of these sections 301 r, 301 p are coupled in parallel to signal line 301, which is also coupled to the column output line 206 for a column of pixels (FIG. 2) at node-B. Each section 301 r, 301 p includes an isolation switch 351, 352 coupled in series to a sampling capacitor 302, 303, respectively. Each sampling capacitor 302, 303 is also coupled in series to its own column select switch 355. Additionally, the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 includes a crowbar switch 353 which may be used to couple the front plates of the sampling capacitors 302, 303. Each portion 301 r, 301 p further includes a clamping switch 354, located between the sampling capacitor 302, 303 and the column select switch 355, which may be used to couple the back plates of the sampling capacitors 354 to a clamp voltage Vcl. The sample-and-hold subcircuit also includes a switchable current source 356 for the source follower transistor 203 (FIG. 2) of the pixel. The output of the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 includes a photo signal at node-C and a reset signal at node-D. Nodes-C/D are coupled to respective lines 122 p, 122 r of a bus 122 (FIG. 1).

The sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 operates as follows. The sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 is initialized by switching on the current source 356 (for line 301), thereby coupling the output line 206 (FIG. 2) of the pixel (R, G, or B) to ground via line 301. Switches 351, 352, and 353 are open. Both switches 354 are closed, and a clamping voltage Vcl is applied to the back plates of capacitors 302, 303. The clamping voltage Vcl is a stable voltage source over time (i.e., it has a very high rejection of variation of supply voltage), and is used to shift the output of the subcircuit 121 (at nodes-C/D) in order to match the output of the subcircuit 121 with the input of subsequent circuitry (e.g., driver 130). Both switches 354 are then opened.

During the first phase of the pixel operation (in pixel R, G, or B of FIG. 2), column select switches 355 are opened. Switch 352 is closed, to couple the reset portion 301 r to the pixel output, which charges sampling capacitor 303. Switch 352 is opened when the first phase of pixel output is completed. As the second phase of pixel output begins, switch 351 is closed to permit the second phase pixel output to charge sampling capacitor 302. Switch 351 is opened when the second phase of pixel output is completed. These operations are performed by each of the subcircuits 121 at the same time, since there is one subcircuit 121 provided for each pixel (R, G, or B) in a row. The output of each pixel may be sequentially output by the sample-and-hold circuit 120 by sequentially closing both column select switches 355 in each subcircuit 121, one subcircuit 121 at a time. When both switches 355 are closed in a particular subcircuit 121, it couples the sampling capacitors 302, 303 of that circuit 121 to lines 122 p, 122 r (FIG. 1) of a bus 122, which couples the sample-and-hold circuit 120 to the driver 130.

The reset and photo signal comprise a differential signal which can be further manipulated by the driver 130 before being digitized by the analog-to-digital converter 140. Alternatively, the photo signal can be subtracted from the reset signal before being digitized. A control circuit 150, which is coupled to the pixel array 110, sample-and-hold circuit 120, driver 130, and analog-to-digital converter 140, may be used to coordinate the operation of these circuits.

One issue associated with APS CMOS imaging systems is that of fixed pattern noise, which is a type of distortion in the image captured by the imaging system. One source of fixed pattern noise is due to imperfections in the sample-and-hold subcircuits 121, including those caused by a failure in a subcircuit to accurately sample the reset and photo signals.

This failure may be due to parasitic capacitance in subcircuit 121. For example, when the subcircuit 121 of FIG. 3 is implemented using conventional fabrication techniques, the result is the subcircuit 121′ illustrated in FIG. 4. The subcircuit 121′ is similar to the subcircuit 121 (FIG. 3), but includes three types of parasitic capacitance. These include a primary cross capacitance 401 which couple the front plates of both sampling capacitors 301, 302, as well as secondary cross capacitances 402, 403, which respectfully couple the front plate of one sampling capacitor 301, 302 to the back plate of the other sampling capacitor 302, 301. The amount of parasitic capacitance may be significant, i.e., ranging approximately five to ten percent of the capacitance of the sampling capacitors 301, 302. For example, when the sample capacitors are 1 pico-farad capacitors, the primary cross capacitance 401 can be approximately 120 femto-farad, while secondary cross capacitances 402, 403 may be approximately 40 femto-farad. The presence of these parasitic capacitances, especially the primary cross capacitance 401, is responsible for a large portion of the fixed pattern noise. Accordingly, there is a need and desire for efficient method for producing a sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 which minimizes the effect of parasitic capacitance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new capacitor structure for use as a sampling capacitor in a sample-and-hold subcircuit of an APS CMOS imaging system. The parasitic capacitance found in conventional sample-and-hold subcircuits are primarily a side effect of the traditional capacitor layout. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a capacitor is restructured to shield the most sensitive electrode node between a set of equal potential layers to form a capacitor back plate. This first set of equal potential layers is itself surrounded by a second set of equal potential layers to act as a guard plate connected to ground. This arrangement shields both capacitors plates from stray coupling with outside parasitic elements and can reduce fixed pattern noise by a factor of eight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention given below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a front-end portion of a CMOS APS system;

FIG. 2 is a more detailed diagram of a pixel;

FIG. 3 is a more detailed diagram of one of the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 found in the sample-and-hold circuit 120;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the effect of parasitic capacitance upon the circuit of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a conventional capacitor; and

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a capacitor in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One important source of parasitic capacitance arises from the way capacitors, such as sampling capacitors 301, 302 are conventionally fabricated. Now referring to the drawings, where like reference numerals designate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 5 an illustration of an integrated circuit capacitor 500 fabricated in the conventional manner. The capacitor 500 includes a substrate layer 501, which is coupled to ground. Dielectric layer D0, polysilicon layer-0 502, dielectric layer D1, and polysilicon layer-1 503 are respectively layered above the substrate 501. The capacitor 500 is formed between node-E and node-F. The two polysilicon layers 502, 503, which sandwich dielectric layer D1, serve as the two plates of the capacitor 500, which has a capacitance of C1.

This traditional method of producing a capacitor 500 provides undesirable electric field interactions at both polysilicon layers 502, 503. More specifically, electric field lines may radiate through the polysilicon layers 502, 503 and couple the respective polysilicon layer 502, 503 with another conductive layer to form parasitic capacitance between the capacitor 500 and the other conductive layer.

For example, polysilicon layer-0 502 may couple with the substrate 501 to form parasitic capacitance C0. Similarly, in many instances at least one additional metal layer, such as routing lines (not illustrated), may be formed above polysilicon layer-1 503. This may result in a parasitic capacitance coupling between polysilicon layer-1 503 and the routing lines.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of the new capacitor 600 in accordance with the invention. The capacitor 600 may be formed by sequentially depositing over a substrate 501 a first dielectric layer D0, a first polysilicon layer 502, a second dielectric layer D1, a second polysilicon layer 503, a third dielectric layer D2, a first metal layer 604, a third dielectric layer D3, and a second metal layer 605 to form a stack as shown in FIG. 6. Interlayer interconnects 610, 611 can be formed in the conventional manner to conductively couple the first metal layer 604 with the first polysilicon layer 502, and to conductively couple the second metal layer 605 with the substrate 501. The new capacitor 600 has a capacitance Cl formed between node-G and node-H, i.e., from the first metal layer 604 to the second polysilicon layer 503. Within the context of the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121, the capacitor 600 is to be oriented so that node-H is coupled to the portion of the subcircuit 121 including the front plate of the sampling capacitors 302, 303, while node-G is coupled to the portion of the subcircuit 121 including the back plate of the sampling capacitors 302, 303.

As illustrated by FIG. 6, the architecture of the capacitor 600 shields the front plate portion, i.e., node-H and second polysilicon layer 503, of the capacitor 600 by placing it between two equal potential layers, i.e., first metal layer 604 and first polysilicon layer 502. The first metal layer 604 and the first polysilicon layer are at equal potential because they are conductively coupled by line 610. Similarly, a second set of equal potential surfaces, i.e., the substrate 501 and the second metal layer 605, both of which are tied to ground potential at the substrate 501, surrounds and shields the first set of equal potential surfaces.

The use of the two sets of equal potential surfaces causes any electric field lines which radiate from the front plate (i.e., the second polysilicon layer 503) to couple to either first metal layer 604, or the first polysilicon layer 502, both of which form the back plate of the new capacitor 600. In this manner, what would ordinarily be parasitic capacitance between the front plate of the capacitor 600 and another circuit has been redirected to become a part of the capacitance C1 of the capacitor 600. Although parasitic capacitance between the back plate of the capacitor 600 and other circuit is less important in subcircuit 121 because the back plate (first metal layer 604 and first polysilicon layer 502) is typically driven to the clamp voltage in subcircuit 121, the back plate of the capacitor 600 is also shield by the second set of equal potential surfaces (substrate 501 and second metal layer 605).

The present invention therefore provides for an shielded capacitor formed with additional conductive layers. Although the illustrated embodiment used additional metal layers, other types of conductive layers, for example, polysilicon layers, would also be suitable. The two additional conductive layers 604, 605, are separated from each other and from polysilicon layer-1 503 by dielectric layers D2, D3. Polysilicon layer-0 is coupled to metal layer 604 to form a first equal potential shield around polysilicon layer-1 503, which is also the front plate of the new capacitor 600. The back plate of the new capacitor 600 is metal layer 604, which, as mentioned above, is coupled to polysilicon layer-0. A second equal potential shield is formed by coupling metal layer 605 with substrate 501, which is coupled to ground. This arrangement shields both capacitors plates from stray coupling with outside parasitic elements. When capacitors having this architecture are used in imaging systems, fixed pattern noise can be greatly reduced. For example, in one embodiment, use of this type of capacitor architecture reduced fixed pattern noise by a factor of eight.

The new capacitor 600 of the present invention is suitable for use in any environment in which the front plate of the capacitor must be isolated from parasitic capacitance. Although the back plate of the new capacitor 600 is also somewhat isolated by the second equal potential layer comprising the substrate 501 and metal layer 605, the capacitor of the present invention is preferably used in an environment such as sampling capacitors 302, 303 in the sample-and-hold subcircuit 121 (FIG. 3), where the back plate voltage is also controlled by driving it with an external power source.

While the invention has been described in detail in connection with the exemplary embodiment, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the above disclosed embodiment. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alternations, substitutions, or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the foregoing description or drawings, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. An imager, comprising: a pixel array including pixels for converting light into electrical signals; and a circuit for sampling signals produced by a pixel, the sampling circuit including an input line for receiving signals produced by said pixel, a sample capacitor, and a switch for controllably coupling said sample capacitor to said input line; wherein said sample capacitor is fabricated as a semiconductor device and further includes a front plate comprising a first conductive portion; a first dielectric portion above and adjacent to said front plate; a second dielectric portion below and adjacent to said front plate; a first conductive structure surrounding said first and second dielectric portions, said conductive structure including a back plate of said capacitor; a third dielectric portion above and adjacent to said first conductive structure; a fourth dielectric portion below and adjacent to said first conductive structure; and a second conductive structure surrounding said third and fourth portions.
 2. The imager of claim 1, wherein said first conductive structure further comprises: a first portion adjacent to a first one of said first and second dielectric portions; a second portion adjacent to second one of said first and second dielectric portions; and a conductive interconnect coupling said first and second portions; wherein, said first and second portions are conductive; said first and second portions are equal potential; and one of said first and second portions forms the back plate of the capacitor.
 3. The imager of claim 2, wherein said first one of said first and second dielectric portions is an upper one of said first and second dielectric portions, and said first portion comprises metal.
 4. The imager of claim 2, wherein said first one of said first and second dielectric portions is an upper one of said first and second dielectric portions, and said first portion comprises polysilicon.
 5. The imager of claim 2, wherein said second portion comprises polysilicon located below and adjacent to said second dielectric portion.
 6. The imager of claim 2, wherein said second portion comprises metal located below and adjacent to said second dielectric portion.
 7. The imager of claim 3, wherein said first portion is the back plate of said capacitor.
 8. The imager of claim 4, wherein said first portion is the back plate of said capacitor.
 9. The imager of claim 1, wherein said second conductive structure further comprises: a third portion adjacent to a first one of said third and fourth dielectric portions; a fourth portion adjacent to a second one, different from said first one, of said third and fourth dielectric portions; and a conductive interconnect coupling said third and fourth portions; wherein, said third and fourth portions are conductive; and said third and fourth portions are equal potential.
 10. The imager of claim 9, further comprising: a second metal portion disposed above an upper one of said third and fourth dielectric portions.
 11. The imager of claim 9, wherein said fourth portion is a substrate.
 12. The imager of claim 11, wherein said substrate is grounded.
 13. The imager of claim 1, wherein said first conductive portion is comprised of polysilicon.
 14. The imager of claim 1, wherein said first conductive portion is comprised of a metal.
 15. An imager, comprising: a pixel array including pixels for converting light into electrical signals; and a circuit for sampling signals produced by a pixel, the sampling circuit including an input line for receiving signals produced by said pixel, a sample capacitor, and a switch for controllably coupling said sample capacitor to said input line; wherein said sample capacitor is fabricated as a semiconductor device and further includes a first plate; a first conductive structure surrounding and thereby shielding said first plate to reduce parasitic capacitance, said first conductive structure further comprising a second plate of said capacitor; and a second conductive structure surrounding and thereby shielding said first plate and said second plate to reduce parasitic capacitance.
 16. The imager of claim 15, wherein said first plate is comprised of polysilicon.
 17. The imager of claim 15, wherein said first plate is comprised of a metal.
 18. The imager of claim 15, wherein said first conductive structure further comprises, a second conductive layer; and a conductive interconnect conductively coupling said second plate and said second conductive layer.
 19. The imager of claim 18, wherein said second conductive layer is comprised of polysilicon.
 20. The imager of claim 18, wherein said second conductive layer is comprised of a metal.
 21. The imager of claim 15, wherein said second conductive structure further comprises, a third conductive layer; a substrate; and a conductive interconnect coupling said substrate and said third conductive layer.
 22. The imager of claim 21, wherein said third conductive layer comprises polysilicon.
 23. The imager of claim 21, wherein said third conductive layer comprises a metal.
 24. An imager, comprising: a pixel array including pixels for converting light into electrical signals; a circuit for sampling signals produced by a pixel, the sampling circuit including an input line for receiving signals produced by said pixel, a sample capacitor, and a switch for controllably coupling said sample capacitor to said input line; wherein said sample capacitor is fabricated as a semiconductor device and further includes a first plate, a second plate, a first shield, said first shield including a first surface and a second surface, said first surface and said second surface being equal potential surfaces, and a second shield, said second shield including a third surface and a fourth surface, said third surface and said fourth surface being equal potential surfaces; wherein said first plate and said second plate are disposed to form two plates of said capacitor, said first surface and said second surface are disposed to shield said first plate to reduce parasitic capacitance, and said third surface and said fourth surface are disposed to shield said first plate and said second plate to reduce parasitic capacitance.
 25. The imager of claim 24, wherein said second shield is disposed to also shield said first shield.
 26. The imager of claim 24, wherein said capacitor is formed over a substrate.
 27. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said first surface and said second surface is a polysilicon layer formed over said substrate.
 28. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said first surface and said second surface is a metal layer formed over said substrate.
 29. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said third surface and said fourth surface is said substrate formed over said substrate.
 30. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said third surface and said fourth surface is a metal layer formed over said substrate.
 31. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said first plate and said second plate is a metal layer formed over said substrate.
 32. The imager of claim 26, wherein one of said first plate and said second plate is a polysilicon layer formed over said substrate. 